NSF Org:	EEC Division of Engineering Education and Centers
Recipient:	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Initial Amendment Date:	September 17, 2002
Latest Amendment Date:	September 17, 2002
Award Number:	0230609
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Sue Kemnitzer EEC  Division of Engineering Education and Centers ENG  Directorate for Engineering
Start Date:	January 1, 2003
End Date:	December 31, 2004 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$100,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$100,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2002 = $100,000.00
History of Investigator:	Larry Richards (Principal Investigator) lgr@virginia.edu Joseph Humphrey (Co-Principal Investigator) Gabriel Laufer (Co-Principal Investigator) Robert Tai (Co-Principal Investigator) Randy Bell (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Virginia Main Campus 1001 EMMET ST N CHARLOTTESVILLE VA  US  22903-4833 (434)924-4270
Sponsor Congressional District:	05
Primary Place of Performance:	University of Virginia Main Campus 1001 EMMET ST N CHARLOTTESVILLE VA  US  22903-4833
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	05
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	JJG6HU8PA4S5
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	EngEd-Engineering Education
Primary Program Source:	app-0102
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	134000
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.041

ABSTRACT

PROPOSAL NO.: 0230609
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Richards, Larry
INSTITUTION NAME: University of Virginia Main Campus
TITLE: The Virginia Middle School Engineering Education Initiative: Teaching Engineering in the Middle Schools
NSF RECEIVED DATE: 06/04/2002

Abstract

The award will develop engineering teaching materials which emphasize design for teachers
in middle schools. This builds upon the first stage of a long-term multidisciplinary project: the Virginia Middle Schools Engineering Education Initiative (VMSEEI). This will infuse selected engineering concepts and procedures into the context of preexisting science and mathematics classes.


Engineering schools need to develop ways to attract and retain students. Middle
school is when we start to lose potential students. In these grades, they make choices that
either open or close the doors to advanced science and mathematics. If we start in middle
schools, we can make students aware of engineering, and motivate them to pursue the
science and mathematics they need to succeed in engineering programs.

The interdisciplinary faculty team is in place, as are engineering students, education
graduate students and exceptional local science teachers. Additional middle school teachers are being recruited from local (Charlottesville\Albemarle) and regional (Central Virginia) schools, and teachers-in-training at the Curry School of Education at UVa will participate in this project.

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